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HJR 81

A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the release of funds and declaring an emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Adam Bowling and 2 co-sponsors

Accelerates $52.5 million in General Fund dollars to Kentucky’s WWATERS program to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects and declares an emergency for prompt funding.

signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 190)
#budgetandfinancialadministration #effectivedates #emergency #publicutilities #sewersystems #stateagencies #watersupply
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Bill Summary · HJR 81

Summary of HJR 81 (2026RS) — Kentucky

A joint resolution authorizing release of funds from the General Fund for the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) Program and declaring an emergency.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • To approve the release of General Fund moneys totaling $52,502,260 for the Kentucky WWATERS Program, allowing selected projects to proceed.
  • To ensure timely funding for eligible public water and wastewater systems identified through the WWATERS process.
  • To declare an emergency to facilitate immediate disbursement upon passage, enabling prompt project implementation.

2) Key Provisions and Funding Details

  • Authorized Authority: Office of State Budget Director is directed to release funds to the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA), consistent with 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 1(4).
  • Total Amount: $52,502,260 from General Fund.
  • Projects and Allocations: Funding split across 17 projects, including water treatment, booster stations, pump stations, line replacements, debt service, tank rehabilitation, wastewater treatment improvements, and system upgrades. Specific allocations include:
    • Evarts: $926,000 for water treatment plant
    • Martin County Water District: multiple allocations totaling several million (e.g., $964,850 for KY Route 292 booster station; $6,471,900 for Davella pump station/line replacement; $3,294,561 debt service; $769,210 tank repair; $1,687,380 to Martin County Sewer District for lift station projects and debt service)
    • City of Martin: $514,800 for infrastructure rehabilitation
    • City of Liberty: $12,563,000 for Liberty Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements
    • Southern Water and Sewer District: multiple allocations including mains ($3,106,890), tank replacement ($900,500), debt repayment ($4,211,643), and debt service ($2,169,799)
    • City of Elkhorn: $1,296,212 debt repayment
    • City of Smithland: $1,164,665 disinfection byproduct mitigation and system improvement
    • City of Oak Grove: $2,000,000 for KY Route 115 North and Carneal Lane waterline extension and tank
    • Martin County Sewer District: $6,596,750 lift station replacement; $3,864,100 Inez wastewater system improvements; $2,169,799 debt service; $1,687,380 Blacklog gravity line replacement

Note: The list above reflects the project categories and individual dollar amounts as specified in the bill text.

3) Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Public water systems and wastewater systems in Kentucky that qualify for WWATERS funding:
    • Evarts, Martin County Water District, City of Martin, City of Liberty, Southern Water and Sewer District, City of Elkhorn, City of Smithland, City of Oak Grove, Martin County Sewer District, City of Inez (via district improvements), among others.
  • Eligible entities would receive state funds to support capital projects, debt service, and system improvements aimed at improving water quality, reliability, and wastewater treatment capacity.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Source of Funds: General Fund, authorized by 2024 Acts ch. 173, sec. 1(4).
  • Administrative Process: Funds are to be released by the Office of State Budget Director to the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority for disbursement to WWATERS-approved projects, following the normal evaluation and scoring process described in KRS 224A.320.
  • Reporting and Oversight: Section 7 of the WWATERS framework requires annual reporting of evaluations and scores; the 2025 report has been received and reviewed.
  • Emergency Declaration: The bill includes an emergency clause (Section 2) to take effect immediately upon passage and gubernatorial approval or upon becoming law, enabling rapid funding allocation.

5) Context and Legislative Details

  • The bill is a House Joint Resolution (HJR 81) in the 2026 Regular Session (Kentucky, 2026RS).
  • House Committee Substitute approved; was advanced with a favorable recommendation and treated as an emergency measure.
  • Sponsors: Representative Jason Petrie; Co-sponsors: Josh Bray and Adam Bowling.

Bottom Line

HJR 81 accelerates the distribution of $52.5 million in General Fund dollars to support critical water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across multiple Kentucky jurisdictions through the WWATERS program, citing public health, reliability, and system resilience as key motivators. It declares an emergency to ensure prompt funding and project initiation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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